As previously posted, I've traded in writing textbooks for taking on the challenge of writing novels. Writing behavioral objectives and multiple-choice questions are now dead to me!
When I started writing my first novel, 181 Blackhorse Road, I was torn between using or not using chapter titles. After all, I told my hyper-curious self, I like a carrot dangled before me about the mystery, conflict, or situation that the next chapter holds. On the other hand, a good book that keeps me in the dark about what's around the corner makes me turn the pages too.
I started 181 Blackhorse Road without chapter titles. Then, about half-way through the book, I added titles, because, well I kind of liked them. Then on draft eight, I took them out but added them back in draft nine.
Just for fun, I took a random sample of fifteen novels to see how the authors treated chapter titles. Disappointing for the researcher in me, the null hypothesis proved true (almost). Fifty-three percent (8/15) included titles, whereas forty-seven percent (7/15) did not!
So, the question remains, should I or should I not use chapter titles in my completed novel?
Then a brilliant insight! I should query my potential readers, friends, and colleagues to help me by asking them what they like and why.
Help an author in a quandary! Do chapter titles ring your bell or not (or who the heck cares)?
Make your voice heard on your preference for chapter titles by taking my three-question survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YJDT3JL_ChapterTitles I'll report the results in about a week.
P.S. I apologize! The first and third questions on the survey are multiple-choice! Yikes, you can take a person out of academia, but you can't take academia out of the person.